Apparatus for checking a number of telephone-calls.



E.KOLOSSVARY.

APPARATUS FOR CHECKING A NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, I913- 1 %21 9 1 9 1 w Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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WITNESSES v IgVegF' M/ Elm re Kolpqsva'ry) E. KoLossvA'nv. APPARATUS FOR CHECKING A NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY H; 1913. $1,191 m Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI' 2.-

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E. KOLOSSVAIRY.

APPARATUS FOR CHECKING A NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 1913.

w fir /4 ETSSES 42 I I 3 J- Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' EndP KOZOSsvwj E.KOLOSSVARY.

APPARATUS FOR CHECKING A NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CALLS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. I913.

1]? 1 J 91 m Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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ENDRE KoLossvAnY, or BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, assrenon, BY MESNE Assromannrs, 'ro wnsrnnn ELECTRIC COMPANY, rnoonronarnn, A ooarona'rron or new YORK.

APPARATUS FOR'CHEGKING NUMBER OF TELEPHONE-CALLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, i931? Application filed July 11, 1913. Serial No. 778,584.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENDRE Konossviur, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Budapest, in the Kingdom of Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Checking a Number of Telephone-Calls, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a portable compound telephone and call'registering apparatus correspond ing in general characteristics as to form and dimensions with portable telephone instruments commonly known as hand sets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wall box, jack or plug receptable and a plug connector therefor, all of such form to constitute a combination whereby a telephone line terminating in the jack is only accessible for connection with the key like plug, intended for use therein; in order that such receptacles when placed in public or other locations may serve to protect the associated telephone line from interference through the inadvertent or malicious in-- sertion therein of foreign objects or plugs not intended for service therewith.

A further object resulting from a combination of the first and second objects of this invention provides that the telephone hand set and call register may be carried as a pocket telephone set and attached to or detached from connection with a telephone line without the use of tools all in a manner easily performed by any person without skill or knowledge of the art.

Other objects and advantages of this system will be readily understood from the following description of this invention In telephone apparatus with means for counting the calls, the counting is generally efiected by means of counting mechanism arranged at the exchange or at the call boxes or telephones, such counting mechanisms being operated by the'subscriber or an ofiicial at each fee paying use of the telephone apparatus. The fees are then levied, at certain intervals of time, on the basis of the registers which are made on the counting mechanisms.

A great disadvantage of this checking system is that it necessitates a very considerable amount of labor by the individual handling of each separate subscriber, that is to say a reading off and calculation at each telephone or telephone box. The reading off of the counting mechanism is substantially facilitated if it can be done in the exchange itself, but the counting is in such case withdrawn from the control of the subscriber. The use of counting mechanism both at the exchange and also at the subscribers telephones, would, however, greatly increase the cost of installation and mainte nance.

Now according to the present invention the useof telephone call boxes or places for which use fees have to be paid, is checked by arranging that a combined action of thesubscriber takes the place of an individual one as regards fixing the extent of time consumed by the call, and computation of the charge, and also indicates the correct ness of the counting to the exchange and to the subscriber in a similar manner, without having to duplicate the counting mechanisms, or to take the register at the subscribers telephone.

Payment in advance, in the strictest sense of the word, for telephone calls up to any suitable number, which may be varied for each case, is thus rendered possible.

This is obtained by the subscribers telephone being provided with a registering mechanism which prevents the further use of the telephone for fee paying service after a predetermined number of calls.

n th1s way it is possible to sell a predetermined number of calls fixed by a tariff, For this purpose the counting mechanism of the subscribers apparatus may simply be adjusted, on receipt of the payment, to a given number of operations, and in this condition suitably scaled up, whereby this apparatus can only be. used for as many fee paying calls as correspond with the number adjusted. At each feepaying use of the apparatus the counting mechanism moves forward one stage.

This can of course take place, according to the telephone and tariff system employed, at various phases of the use of the calling place, in such a way that a use of the telephone which involves a fee is only possible after counting has taken place.

The accompanying drawings show as an example a form of construction of the apparatus for carrying out the invention applied'to a telephone system with a central battery.

Figures 1-11 illustrate a telephone apparatus having the general characteristics of a hand set and adapted to be carried in the pocket.

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the apparatus with the protective cover removed;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section;

Fig. 3, a front view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4, a side View of the switch plug;

Fig. 5, a diagram of the connections of the apparatus;

.Fig. 6 shows the position which the springs of the switch box adopt when a foreign object is inserted;

b Fig. 7 is a cross section of the switch Fig. 8, a view of the same in longitudinal section with the plug inserted;

Fig. 9, a front view of a form of construe tion with a plug cable in the form of a strip;

Fig. 10, a side view of the same partially in section;

Fig. 11, a cross section of the strip cable.

The apparatus, which is illustrated as an example, in view of its purpose, is as flat and small as possible, and it substantially consists of a foundation or supporting plate 1 (Fig. 1'), an ordinary receiver 2, a removable microphone case 3, a counting mechanism arranged in accordance with this invention between the two last mentioned parts, contact springs 4 and 5, a buzzer 6, afixed protective cover 7 and a protective cover 8 (Fig. 2) adapted to be opened on a hinge, a connecting cable 9 and plug 10 (Fig. 3). The cable lies rolled up when out of use, together with the plug, in the closed cover 8, which is fixed in position by a fastening spring 11, so that the subscriber can conveniently carry the apparatus in his pocket.

In order toconnect the apparatus with the system, a connection box fixed to the wall and illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is employed. In this box, the, preferably fiat, plug 10 of the apparatus may be inserted. Its two terminal pieces 12 come in contact with springs 13 and with contact pins 14 firmly riveted thereto. The springs 13 are connected with the two conductors leading to the exchange and lie behind guard springs 15 and are insulated from them. These springs are provided with holes to give passage to the contact pins. The springs 13 also hear by means of insulated pins 16 on the guard springs 15, the distance between the two pins 14 being greater than the distance between the feelers 17 formed on the ends of the springs 15.

If therefore a person endeavors, 'maliciously or mischievously to insert into the boxes, usually arranged in public places, metal articles not intended for them, usually nails, knife blades, or, in brief, articles of approximately uniform section, they cannot simultaneously come in contact with both pins 14 (Fig. ,6). As contrasted with this the plug 10- is so narrowed at the place where the feeler projections 17 bear, that the pins 14 rest on the terminal pieces 12 of the plug.

The counting device may be of any known construction. The device shown in Fig. 1, which substantially consists of numbered wheels 18, 19, 20 and 21 arranged on a common shaft, may be operated by a counting lever 22 in such a way that when the lever is depressed in the direction indicated by the arrow a: (Fig. 2), a pawl 23 moves forward a ratchet wheel 24 and the wheel 18 firmly connected therewith, through a tenth of a revolution or a distance corresponding to one numeral. The counting wheels 18 21 which respectively correspond to units. tens, hundreds and thousands, and each of which is provided with numerals from 0 9, are so connected with one another in known manner that each wheel of a lower order during each complete revolution moves forward the adjacent wheel of higher order through a tenth of a revolution, 2'. 0., through a distance corresponding to one numeral. In this way the result is obtained that when the numbers of the counting wheels are arranged to increase in value in the requisite direction, each depression of the counting lever 22 diminishes by one unit the number visible in the inspection aperture or window 25 which number is formed of the correspondingly placed numerals of the four counting wheels. The wheel of the highest order of numerals, in our example the thousands wheel 21, is, according to this invention, provided with a stop pin 26, which in the zero position of the counting mechanism, in which all the wheels shown in the window slot 25 the numeral 0, rests in such a way on the blocking plate 27, that the further operation of the counting de- Vice, which would require after the number 0000 to produce the number 9999 and the forward movement of the thousands wheel 21, is prevented.

A fresh adjustment is effected by removing the protective cover 7, which can be closed against unauthorized opening by means of a leaden seal being opened. and either the counting wheels moved in the ordinary direction after the blocking plate 27 has been displaced, or after the operating pawl 23 and the fixing pawl 28 have been released, the counting wheels are moved forward in a direction opposite to the ordinary one, i. 6., in the direction which causes the numbers to increase, until the apparatus is adjusted to the desired number, whereupon the pawls are allowed to drop back into their place and the blocking plate 27 is again fixed in its place. a As may be seen in Figs. 2 and5, the de pression of the counting lever 22, also brings the springs 4: and 5 in contact with one another by means of an insulated spindle 29 fiXed to the lever 22, and connects the buzzer 6 into the exchange circuit in parallel with the receiver and the microphone. The 'cu rrent flowing through the buzzer sets it n operation and audibly indicates that 'the number is registered both to the subscriber as well as to theoflicial at the exchange. In order to prevent registering being avoided,

the insulating spindle 29 is so arranged that it only brings the springs 4, 5, in contact with oneanothei' when the depression of the go lever 22 has proceeded so far that the fixing pawl 28 has dropped into the following tooth interval in the ratchet wheel 24 and has thereby already fixed the new number.

The separate parts of the apparatus here- 25 inbef ore described may of course be made in a different way without the essential feature of the invention being altered thus, for example, the pawls 23, 28 and the teeth of the ratchet wheel 24 may be made in opposite so directions, the depression of the lever 22 only preparing for the counting by bringing the counting pawl 23 into the next tooth in: terval of the ratchet wheel 24, The ratchet wheel 24 and the counting wheel 18 connect- 3a ed therewith in this case move ,forward when the released lever 22 returns to its positionof repose.

Instead of the buzzer 6, any other-suitable signaling device may be employed which is to set in operation indirectly or directly by the lever 22, and gives observable optical or acoustic signals at the exchange by directly influencing the circuit, for example,by making or breaking the contact a suitable num- 15 ber of times, or indirectly by acting on the microphone.

The position of the counting mechanism may also be altered, but the arrangement illustrated (between the receiver and the to microphone) is preferable, as the space necessary for the counting mechanism in this way also serves for'increasing the distance between the receiver and the microphone, and the microphone is brought closer to the month of the person using the apparatus, without the length of the apparatus, which must be kept of as small dimensions as possible, having for this object to be especially increased. 7 to In theform of construction illustrated in Figs. 9-11 the double wire cable 30 is made in the form of a Hat strip which can be wound on the outside of the apparatus, without the volume of the latter being substantially increased. The winding of the cable plug.

strip may take place either along thenarrow side of the apparatus, or (as shown in Figs. Sand 10,) alsoover the frontand rear faces thereof. In this case the protective cover 8 may be dispensed with, as the cable 30 0 covers and protects the openings of the receiver and the microphone, and the inspection aperture and the lever of the counting device. For securing the cable 30 in position apress button 31 of known kind is employed. In order to obtain the necessary strength, the cable strip is preferably made of a strap on which, as the cross section illustrated in Fig. 11 shows,the two wires 33 are sewn beneath a thin protective band 32.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a telephone hand set for operative association in a telephone circuit, a supporting plate, a transmitter and a receiverdis posed thereon and a register mounted on said plate for operative association in said telephone circuit. v I

2. In a telephone hand set for operative association in a telephone circuit, a supporting plate, a transmitter and a receiver disposed thereon, a register fixed to the plate substantially between the transmitter and reeeiver for operative association in said telephone circuit, means for actuating the register, and a stop to limit the number of times the register may be operated.

3. In a telephone hand set, a transmitter and a receiver, a supporting plate therefor, a register mounted on said supporting plate between said transmitter and receiver, an electroresponsive signal, a central-battery line circuit, means for jointly actuating said register and controlling the operation of said signal, and means for sealing the current conducting parts of said apparatus against unauthorized access thereto.

4. In a telephone hand set, a central-battery telephone line, a transmitter and a receiver, a supporting plate therefor, a register fixed approximately central on said plate between said transmitter and receiver, means for actuating saidyregister, means for :including the set with the line circuit, and electroresponsive means controlled by the register actuating means for producing current changes on said line circuit.

5. In a subscribers portable telephone and call register, a supportingplate, a transmitter and receiver mounted thereon, a counting mechanism carried by said plate, a cord connected with the telephone apparatus and a plug on said cord, said supporting plate being provided with space within its margins for uniformly storing said cord and 6. A subscribers portable telephone and call register comprising a supporting plate on which is mounted a transmitter, a receiver and a countingmechanism, a cord and a plug, said supporting plate being pro- 139 vided with space within its margins for uniformly storing said cord and plug, and a cover engaging with said supporting plate to therewith completely inclose all of the said apparatus.

7. A subscribers portable telephone and call register, comprising a supporting plate on which is disposed a transmitter, a receiver, a signal, a counting mechanism, means for operating said counting mechanism, a cord and a plug, said supporting plate being provided with space Within its margins for uniformly storing said cord and plug, and a hinged cover engaging with said supporting plate to therewith inclose all of the said apparatus.

8. In a telephone hand set, a supporting plate, a transmitter and a receive disposed thereon, a register and a signal attached to the plate, means jointly acting to operate the register and to control the operation of the signal, a fixed protective cover and a hinged protective cover cooperating with the fixed cover to inclose the devices comprising the hand set.

9. In a telephone hand set, a supporting plate, a transmitter fixed to the plate, a re-.

ceiver fixed to and extendingthrough the plate, a call register fixed in a depression in the plate at a point approximately between the transmitter and receiver, an electroresponsive signal fixed to the rear of said plate, means actuated in the operation of the register to control the operation of the signal, and a fixed protective cover for the rear of said supporting plate to prevent unauthorized access to the mechanism and current carrying parts of said apparatus.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signml my name this 19th day of June 1913, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ENDRE KOLOSSVARY.

Witnesses An'ruUn T iiszL, JOHN J. Rox'ro. 

